Stellar Review in the Toronto Star

This just in: a rave review of Fashionality by Canada's doyenne of fashion, Jeanne Beker, in conversation with McMichael CEO Victoria Dickenson. Well done, ladies!  The article also appeared in hard copy, in the Wednesday, June 20th edition of the Toronto Star (p E9). The word is out!

http://www.thestar.com/living/fashion/article/1214115--mcmichael-exhibit-brings-together-canadian-fashion-and-art

This seemed appropriate, somehow . . .  Jeanne Beker with some Canadian fashionistas.

Don't Miss Miss America at Centre Space

The Amazing Kent Monkman does it again in another show at Centre Space in Toronto:

http://www.centre-space.ca/kent-monkman-miss-america-2/

The work shown here is one of the artist's latest, and is called Miss America.  Do I hear any votes for a duet with Miss Canadiana?

This awe-inspiring show is on until August 11th. 

Nicole Dextras: Artist in Residence

The McMichael is welcomes Fashionality artist Nicole Dextras, who is in residency at the gallery until July 1, 2012. Nicole will complete one of her astonishing Weedrobes eco-dress-performance-sculptures, which will be unveiled in a special performance at the McMichael's Canada Day ceremony.

More info about this Canada Day sartorial celebration, check here: http://bit.ly/LzknN4

Best of luck on your residency, Nicole -- we know you'll do wonderful things!

A little someting Nicole threw together one afternoon :) 

From the Weedrobes series.

Delightful Exposure

The McMichael's fundraiser, Fashion as Art -- Exposed!  was a tremendous success. Based upon the theme of the relationship between art and dress/fashion, the main event was the celebration of the "Group of Seven" fashion designers, who were showcased in a fashion show. 

The McMichael crew did an magnificent job, and the show -- hosted by Fashion doyenne Jeanne Beker -- was stunning, with models showcasing the work of the designers to live "crazy classical" violin, and ending up standing in seven human-sized red picture frames.  Everything else was equally perfect, including a raffle for a beautiful Charles Pachter painting, delicious nibbles and drinks, and gorgeous decorations. 

Artists (from left) Barbara Pratt, Nicole Dextras, Camal Pirbhai,
Camille Turner and guest curator Julia Pine.

As you'll see in the pictures, a number of the Fashionality artists were there.  A wonderful night!

Here are some great photos from the FashionEcstacy blog:

http://fashionecstasy.com/fashion-as-art-exposed-mcmichael-canadian-art-collection/

You may need a Facebook account to access these, but here are the McMichael photos for the night, if you can:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.477376532276710.124351.206491259365240&type=3

Also check out the Perrier Society pages here:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150909483083492.423792.157201558491&type=1

And here's one featuring all the gorgeous glitterati:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.257269174379480.46477.200848873354844&type=1

Art Encounter

Don't miss the upcoming Art Encounter at the McMichael on the 23rd of June. There will be a curator's "nature walk" through the exhibition focusing on work that intersects with the natural world, as well as a talk with Eco Artist Extraordinaire, Nicole Dextras. It's from 11:00 - 1:00 and $25, or $20 for members.  Hope to see you there!

http://mcmichael.com/apps/index.cfm?page=program.detail&programEventId=682&areaId=2

Nicole Dextras, Icicle Slip. Colour photographs, 2011.

Jacques Payette at the Laurentides

Congratulations to Jacques Payette for another major retrospective of his work: this time at the Musee d'Art Contemporain des Laurentides.  No need to say that it will be a beautiful show. 

http://www.museelaurentides.ca/

Here's one of Jacques' gorgeous works in Fashionality, entitled Dans des décors inachevés. Fustian and encaustic on canvas, 2003. Collection of the artist, Montreal.

Who's in Canadian Art?

We are!  Check out the Summer edition of Canadian Art Magazine, pages 56 - 57, for a short piece about the show, and a very fun photo of the Fashionality curator (yours truly), with the amazing Cathy Daley and Miss Canadiana. Warning: contains supermodels.

Time to Expose Yourself (to art and fashion).

This weekend it is: Fashion as Art -- Exposed!  A fantastic fundraiser at the McMichael featuring fine art fashionistas of the finest feathers . . .

Jeanne Beker hosting, cocktails and bling, the Group of Seven fashion designers extraordinaire, and glamour galore. Yes, you have died and gone to heaven.  Clearly -- you need to be there.  Here are the deets -- and be sure to note the shuttle bus service for the evening. Oooh la la!!

http://www.mcmichael.com/events/fashionasartexposed.cfm

 

Carleton University Magazine

Yes, one day this curator will learn to speak to the press without hiccupping or guffawing.  But -- what can I say, Kent Monkman has a wicked sense of humour -- in addition to his razor-sharp abilities at cultural critique. The following is an article from Carleton University Magazine, the summer edition. The hard copy of the article also has images of works by Lori Blondeau (COSMOSQUAW, 1996), and Mary Wong (from her Yellow Apparel series, 2004 - present).

http://cualumni.carleton.ca/magazine/summer-2012/use-art-to-unlock-stereotypes-and-roast-canadas-colonial-imperatives/

Mary Wong. Peformance still (with model) from Yellow Apparel project, 2004 - present.

Fashionable Exposure

A very fine mention on Stephen Weir's blog about the Fashion as Art -- Exposed! event coming up this Saturday. 

And a work by D'Arcy Moses for the event. Wonderful piece!